Lubricant supply pump



' April 12, 1932.

c. G/BUTLER LUBRI CANT SUPPLY PUMP Filed Jun 21, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 yaw INVENTOR ATTO RNEY.

April l 2, 1932. c. G. BUTLER LUBRI CANT SUPPLY PUMP Fi led Jun 21, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ril 12, 1932.

C. G. BUTLER LUBRICANT SUPPLY PUMP 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Filed June 21, 1930 April 12, 1932'. c. G. BUTLER LUBRICANT SUPPLY P MP '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 21, 1930 tilin /fill! INVENTOR Patented Apr-.12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFI-ucr.

CLYDE G. BUTLER, OFCINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO CINCINNATI BALL GRAN! 4 COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OI OHIO LUBRICANT SUPPLY Pm,

Application filed June 81,

v This invention relates to lubricating systems and is particularly directed to a pumping unit for forcing lubricant, such as grease, from a sup ly container into the pipes of a system. T e present pumping unit capable of developing moderate pressures such as would be suitable for feeding the lubricant into the transmission casings, etc'., and con-.

templates the provision of high pressure de- 10 vices or guns at the discharge ends of various pipe lines extending from a mainheader to which the grease is supplied from the pump. The pump is designed to operate to maintain a predetermined pressure throughout the 1:; feed line or header whereby the lubricant is supplied to the points of discharge at all times.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a lubricant pumping 3-3, Figure 1, the top of the reservoir or con- :0 unit moving the lubricant from a large reservoir into feed or supply lines under a moderate degree ofpressure and in a steady uniform flow.

It is another ob'ect of this invention to provide a pum 0 this nature which with draws the lubricant from the reservoir and feeds the lubricant by means of a number of piston and cylinder units actuated from a common central source. This multiple piston so pump by successive action of the pistons creates a constant steady discharge of lubricant from the reservoir and overcomes the disadvanta es of an ordinary single piston pump w ich moves the lubricant in notice- !5 able impulses or shots which, because of their intermittency, create .an uneven feed. More specifically, the, present object includes .the

provision of an improved actuating medium centrally located relative to the pistons which 0 ini arts successive strokes to the pistons and Wl'llOll includes an extremely novel mounting of the piston connector means about a rotating eccentric. 1

\ A further object of the invention is to pro- .5 vide improved passageways from the reservoir to the respective ump cylinders whereby movement of the lu ricant to the cylinders is facilitated and full advantage taken of the v weight of the lubricant and any pressure exerted on the body of the lubricant.

mac, mm No. 482,809.

It is another object in connection with the object to provide a novel mountforegoing fi tering screens in the respective lumg of brlcant passageways whereby the screens are firmly ficul 'Ot er objects relate to the eneral construction of the pump and drive t erefore and the system installation relative to the pum mounted andremovable without difwhich objects along with certain other a vantages will be more fully apparent from the description of the accompanying ings in which:

draw- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the complete unit showing the supply pipe broken ofl. Figure 2 1s aside elevation of Figure 1 illustrating the motor in hanton lines for disclosing apparatus in bac of the motor.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line tral actuating means showing the eccentric in a midway or laterally disposed osition wherein the respective pistons are at t e same position.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77, Figure 3, illustrating'the transmission between the motor shaft and the shaft of the pump.

Figure 8 is a central view taken on line 88, Figure 7, detailing the mounting of the multiple piston actuating means on the shaft of the pump.

Generally described, the pump comprises a reservoir 10 mounted on a multiple cylinder block 11 which is hollow centrally for housing the iston actuating means. This cylinder bloc is mounted on a transmission casing 12 bolted to a floor or base plate 13. A s

motor 14 for driving the transmission is bolted to the plate.

The discharge or supply conduits 15 extending from the pump are connected to a common line 16 which extends to theheader into which various pressure devices are tapped (not shown). The motor is controlled automaticall by means of a pressure device 17 actuate by the lubricant in the discharge line whereby the pump only operates below a certain pressure.

Referring to the drawings, the cylinder block 11 is of general circular form and as shown'in Fi 're 8 is of hollow design, generall cylin rical on its vertical axis. Towar the upper portion thereof the walls flare outwardly to provide a horizontal attaching .flange 11" upon which the container tank or reservoir 10 is supported. The cylinder block is closed at its upper end with the exception of passageways or ports 18-18 extendin independently of the main cylinder of the b ock from the reservoir to the respective cylinders.

The container tank is cylindrical and includes an inner ring 19 secured relative to its lower end by press-fitting or spot welding. The ring rovides a counterturned portion in its outer ace within which the-metal of the container is disposed. The aforesaid ring is secured to the attachment flange of the cylin der block by means of bolts 20 or any suitable means and a sealing ring 21 is inserted between the respective parts. The upper end of the container is closed by means of a removable cover 22 including the conventional handle 23. Within the container a gravity actuated follower plate 24 is in sliding contact with the walls of the cylinder and is provided with a handle 25 for extraction of the same when the lubricant has beenexhausted from the container.

The cylinder block includes a bearin hub 26 centrally of its upper closed end, whic hub is vertically disposed for mounting the upper end of the pumping shaft 27, a bearing sleeve 28 bein inserted in the hub and the upper end of the %ore through the hub being closed by means of a disc 29. The lower end of the pump shaft is mounted within the transmission casing. The transmission casing 12 is bowl shaped and provided with radially extending legs 30 which are bolted to the base plate13. A dependin hub 31 is formed centrally of the bowl of the transmission casing including a bearing sleeve 32 within which sleeve the lower end of the pum shaft 27 is mounted. A worm wheel 33 is lieye'd to the pump shaft and rests upon a collar 34 supported upon the lower bearing hub. This worm wheel is driven by means of a worm 35 journalled in the wall ofthe transmission casmg. The worm 35 is formed on a drive shaft 36 which extends beyond the confines of the transmission casing and carries one element of a flexible coupling 37, the other element of neuacoa which is mounted on the stub shaft 38 of the motor 14 bolted to the base plate 13.

The worm shaft 36 at the extreme end from the motor is mounted in a lug of the transmission casing in a bearing sleeve 39. The outer end of the bore housing the sleeve 39 is closed by means of a cap plate 40 bolted to the transmission casin An end thrust ball bearing 41 is mounte on an intermediate counterturned portion of the shaft between the worm and the bearing sleeve and carries the thrust between the worm and bearing.

The other end of the shaft 1s mounted in a sleeve 42 supported within a bore in the adjacent wall of the transmission casing, the bearing and shaft being sealed by means of a packing gland nut 43 engaging a packing 44 disposed about the shaft, the nut being drawn against the outer face of the boss by means 0 screws.

The common means for actuating the respective pistons is mounted upon the pump shaft just above the worm wheel. The actuating means fastened to the shaft is an eccentric disc 45 which is keyed to the shaft. A pair of large washers 46 or circular plates are disposed one above and one below the. eccentric disc, these washers also being keyed to the shaft. These washers are 'of greater diameter than the eccentric.

In the present instance apair of pump units, each including a cylinder 47 and piston 48 is provided in diametrically opposite sides of the cylinder block. Each of these pistons is flexibly connected to the eccentric. Each connection is accomplished by means of a link 48", which includes a semicircular ring portion having its inner face engaged about the eccentric. These inner faces are less than 180 in circumference so that a space is left between the adjacent ends of the links surrounding the eccentric. The semicircular links providing the aforesaid faces are secured to the eccentric b means of annuli 49-49. The upper and ibwer outer corners of the respective semicircular rings of the links are grooved for receiving a respective annulus. Therefore, there is an annulus'at the top and bottom of the joined These inding annuli or rings securelyg'l ash" the links about the eccentric fo'rf rotati about the eccentric, and the space betw J y adjacent ends of the links is 'suificientftopermit revolution of the links when th'e eccentric center swings laterally from the path of -12? movement of the respective pistons.

The outer ends of the links are bifurcated,

and carry blocks 50 between their respective bifurcations. These blocks are rotativel se-" curedin position by pins 51 which are l ed 125 within and between the arms thereofwll he blocks are attached to or integral-with' the inner ends of the respective pistons.

The cylinders containing the respective pistons are mounted within radially extend- 130 ing bosses 52 of the cylinder'block formed at diametrically opposite sides thereof. The passageways 1818- extend down from the 1 container 1nto communication with the re- 5 spective cylinders and the bosses. These passageways are circular at the extreme upper intake ends, each circular portion terminating in a shoulder 53.

A slot 54 is cut throu h the side wall of the cylinder block radiafiy of each circular opening and is of a greater width than the diameter of the opemng. The base of this slot coincides with the aforesaid shoulder. A filter 55 is mounted upon each ledge formed 5 b the shoulder and the slot. Each of these fi ters comprises a frame 56 providing a central opening concentric with the central portion of the passageway, when in operative position, and a circular section of screen 57 B0 mounted in a counterturned portion of the central opening of the filter frame. These filter frames have radial extensions or ribs 58 extending out through the slot, the ribs being secured to elongated plates 59 covering I the outer ends of the slot openings and secured to the boss 60 which includes the slot by means of wing headed screws 61. When the filters become clogged due to long use and excessive foreign matter in the grease they 10 are quickly removed by loosening the wing headed screws and extracting the filters through the slots.

Beneath the filters, the inner walls of the passageways incline outwardly from the can- :5 ter of the cylinder block for the purpose of directing the grease to the intake port of each cylinder. The cylinders are inserted into the .bosses of the cylinder block from the outside and are bolted in positionby means of inter- .0 medliate flanges 62 formed integrally therewit Between the flange and the inner end of each cylinder a laterally disposed intake port 63 is provided. This intake port is con- .5 structed by transversely slotting the cylinder to the interior of the bore thereof. The upper surface of the cylinder or the surface adjacent the passageway is inclined toward the slot whereby a tapered or funnel shaped in- IO take opening is provided for more readily introducing-the grease to the interior of the cylinder. Furthermore to aid in positive feed by placing the grease entirely around the cylinder and thus making the supply uni- ;5 form and steady at all points of the slot, an annular groove 64 is provided in the .boss surrounding the cylinder and communicating at both ends with the passageway. Each piston in its retractive stroke moves back beyond $0 the slot whereupon the greaseimmediately moves into the cylinder end, the pressure on the grease induced vby the weight of the booster or follower plate as well as the suction Within the cylinder aiding in feeding the 5 grease into the cylinders. The suction in the the seat The valve sleeve is held cylinders is created on the back stroke of the piston because of the provision of a check valve 65 mounted in the outer end of the cylinder. I

A check valve unit is inserted in the end of the cylinder within a counterturned bore thereof, therefore abutting a shoulder 66 markin the outer end of the actual cylinder bore. 's check valve unit consists of a cylinder or sleeve 67 carrying a seat 68 at its inner end, the seat countersunkwithin the end of the sleeve and the end longitudinally slotted as at 69 for a short distance or be 0nd against a sealing ring by means of a flanged OWII nut 70 screw threaded into the outer end of the counterturned bore. The pistons 48 have tips l8 which are adapted to unseat the valves 65 through central discharge bores in the seats 68.

The valve 65 which includes a plain abutting surface covers the central bore in the greater lateral rush of grease for clearing the seat.

The features of this piston and cylinder arrangement have been claimed in a copending application Serial No. 448, 368. The discharge pipes 15 extending from the respective cylinders are attached to laterally extending bosses 73 thereof by screw threading the pipe into the bosses. The grease passes from the check valve sleeve through radial ports 761 therein communicating with an annular groove 75 surrounding the sleeve at this point, the bore of the lateral boss enters this annular groove.

The respective pipes leading from the plurality of pumping cylinders are extended to the common pipe 16 which leads to the port of discharge. Fittings 76 areprovided in the respective nuts securing the valve sleeves in position for additional attaching hose lines to the pump if ,desired.

As shown in Figure 2, the pressure control device 17 is mounted on the base plate and is in communication with the main discharge line by way of a pipe extension 7 7 and a pressure gauge 78 is mounted on the pipe at this point. The pressure device contains mechanism for operating an electric switch therein, which switch is inserted in the wiring leads 79 extending to the motor in any con' ventional manner for causing the motor to start when a predetermined ow pressure is reached in the line and to stop when a predetermined high pressure is reached. The electrical connections may be plugged into any convenient socket.

Having described m invention, I claim:

1. In a device of t e class described, a

inserted through the slot to rest on the shoulder, and means for securing the filter in place.

2. In a device of the class described, a cylinder support, a pumping cylinder mounted in said support, a lubricant reservoir mounted on said support, a passageway extending from the reservoir to the cylinder, the wall of said passageway outwardly slotted to the exterior of the support, and a filter insertable through said slot for disposal across said passageway.

3. In a device of the class described, a cylinder support, a cylinder mounted in the support, said cylinder including an intake port, said support having a passageway extending to the cylinder intake port, a slot extending laterally into the passageway, said passagemy name.

. CLYDE G. BUTLER.

way having a shoulder formed in the same plane with the bottom of the slot, and a filter adapted to be inserted through the slot to rest on the shoulder within the passa eway.

4. In a device of the class describe a cylinder support, a pumping cylinder mounted in said support, a lubricant reservoir mounted on said support, a passageway extending from the reservoir to the cylinder, the wallof said passageway outwardly slotted to-the exterior of the support, a filter insertable through said slot for disposal in said passageway, a face plate disposed on the outer end of the filter and adapted to lie across the outer end of the slot, and means for securing the plate in position across the end of theslot. 5. In a lubricant pump,acircular support,a cylindrical grease container mounted on said circular support, a plurality of pump cylinder elements disposed radially within said support, said support including depending feed portions each supportin a respective cylinder element and including a tapered grease passageway to each 0 linder element,

each cylinder element includlng an inlet'connected to the respective pasageway, a iston in each cylinder element, and a centra dis posed actuating means for said pistons mounted within the support between the de'- pending feed portions.

6. In a lubrlcant dispensing device, a support, a grease reservoir mounted on said support, a, plurality of depending discharge 7 snouts formed in said support about the cen-' 

